Series – A Novel Glimpse

Mini Review: King of the Causeway (T.M. Frazier)

King of the Causeway
Series: King, #9.5
Author: T.M. Frazier
Publication Date: January 9, 2020
Publisher: Frazier Publishing
Genre: Dark Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, New Adult

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

A massive hurricane looms off the coast of Florida while a different kind of storm is brewing in Logan’s beach.
A mysterious newcomer is vying for the title of King of the Causeway. He’ll do anything to steal the crown, including bringing someone back from King’s past who will threaten a lot more than the title King has spent his lifetime earning.
A hurricane is coming.
And it could destroy everything.
(This novella features King & Ray from King & Tyrant)

King of the Causeway was a fun return to the King series. I loved being back in King and Ray’s relationship. It was also fun to get glimpses of other beloved characters from this series. I do wish it would have been a full length novel because there was a lot going on that could have had more attention placed on it and some things happened so quickly it was almost unbelievable, but overall it didn’t really matter. This was still a good addition to the series.

Note: King of the Causeway MUST be read after the first 9 books in this series or you WILL be spoiled. Each series within this series has some great revelations that you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

Review: A Favor for a Favor (Helena Hunting)

A Favor for a Favor
Series: All In, #2
Author: Helena Hunting
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Pucked and A Lie for a Lie, a new stand-alone romance about trading favors, battling wills, and winning love.

When I joined Seattle’s NHL expansion team, I thought it was the start of something great. But nothing ever goes the way you expect. Take my introduction to my new neighbor. She came rolling in on the hot mess express at midnight, making a racket while she tried to get into my team captain’s apartment. Did I mention that he’s married to a woman who definitely was not her?

Imagine my surprise when I end up with an injury that has me out of the game for weeks, and she’s the one to offer to help me. I should probably add that she’s not the captain’s mistress. She’s his sexy, pastel-haired younger sister.

So we come up with an arrangement: she rehabs me so that I can get back on the ice sooner, and she can add a professional athlete that isn’t her brother to her client list. Seems simple enough. As long as I can keep my hands to myself and my hormones in check.

A Favor for a Favor was exactly what I was hoping it was going to be when I picked it up. It was an upbeat romantic comedy filled with some great banter. I liked pretty much everything about it. To be be more specific…

My favorite things about this book were:

Helena Hunting’s writing was at it’s best. A Favor for a Favor was the perfect mix of funny and sweet. It had it’s over the top moments, but they weren’t too crazy. They were fun. The entire plot was well done and entertaining.
Stevie was a cool chick. I loved that she wanted to live outside her brother’s famous hockey player status and make it on her own.
The descriptions of Stevie’s ex Joey were perfectly gross.
Bishop was a grumpy a-hole that was somehow lovable. His attitude didn’t make him that much of a jerk, though. The reason he was how he was made sense. I appreciated his self-awareness. Plus, he was a big old softy under all that grump.
The cameos!

There were only 2 things that rubbed me a little wrong while reading this book:

A Lie for a Lie made me fall in love with Rook. The majority of this book made me see him in a different light, and it wasn’t good. It was hard to merge those two perceptions of him. Although, it did get easier once everything went down and I had more understanding of his attitude. I guess that made up for it.
There was one point where I just wanted to tell Stevie to get over her insecurities. What happened was pretty predictable, but it all made sense so I guess I can’t complain too much about it.

Overall, A Favor for a Favor was a fantastic sports romantic comedy. It is definitely one of my favorite books by Hunting. I hope this series just gets better and better. I’m really wanting a book about Kingston next!

Series Review: Smart Jocks (Rebecca Jenshak)

I’ve been seeing Rebecca Jenshak’s Smart Jocks new adult college sports romance series around a lot lately, and I kept thinking I read it. After talking to a reader friend who told me she hadn’t been addicted to a series like this in a long time, I decided to jump in. I’m so glad I did! The Smart Jocks series is truly addicting! Here is a short review for each book in the series.

The Assist, Book 1: ★ ★ ★ ★

The Assist had me from the start. Pretty much everything about it was adorable. It combined the right about of sports, college, humor, and just a tiny bit of angst. Blair and Wes had great banter, which is probably what made this book shine. I knew from the minute I met the supporting characters that I would have to keep reading the Smart Jocks series.

The Fadeaway, Book 2: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I’m going to be honest. I didn’t really have much of an opinion about Joel Moreno after reading The Assist. He was just sort of background that didn’t stand out. I was more interested in knowing Zeke’s story. Maybe that’s why I was so surprised by how much I loved Joel Moreno. He might have been a manwhore prior to this book, but he really stepped things up for Katrina. He was a much sweeter, more devoted guy than I expected. I loved him and Katrina together.

The Tip-Off, Book 3: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Tip-Off is the book I have been waiting for since I started this series: Zeke and Gabby’s story. Zeke is a hard working young man with a singular focus to make it to the NBA. Gabby is a young woman recovering from a major accident years ago that left her with physical and emotional scars. On their own, each is one of my favorite types of characters, so you can only imagine how I feel about them falling in love. Their story is a sweet slow burn that hit me right in the heart. The Tip-Off is my favorite in this series for sure.

The Fake, Book 4: ★ ★ ★ ★

Honesty again… I don’t know that I really cared about Nathan before this book. I loved that he was a good friend to Gabby and I felt some distress for him in The Tip-Off, but there wasn’t anything that made me want to know him better. The Fake changed that. Nathan meets this new transfer student, Chloe, in this book. What starts out as a one night stand turns to fake dating turns to real dating in an incredibly fun way. I couldn’t give it 5 stars because it stressed me out a little too much in one part, but I was happy I found myself liking Nathan and loving his relationship with Chloe. The way this book wrapped up the series at the end was great.

Overall feeling about Smart Jocks:

If I had to give a rating to the series overall, it would be 5 stars. It’s such an addicting read that I didn’t want to end. I fell in love with each and every character. There’s so much heart and humor involved. It’s definitely a series worth reading and binging — especially if you have Kindle Unlimited.

Review: The Fight for Forever (Meghan March)

The Fight for Forever
Series: Legend Trilogy, #3
Author: Meghan March
Publication Date: January 14, 2020
Publisher: Meghan March LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

You can only keep what you can protect.

That’s all I’ve ever known. It’s the way I’ve lived my life.

Now, everything I never knew I needed is at risk, and I’m not letting anyone take it from me.

I won’t let anyone take her from me.

They say love is a battlefield, so I’m ready for war.

This time, it’s the fight for forever.

The Fight for Forever is the final book in the Legend Trilogy and should be read after The Fall of Legend, book one and House of Scarlett, book two of the utterly addictive Legend Trilogy.

I loved both The Fall of Legend and House of Scarlett, but what I felt for the first two books in this trilogy was only a fraction of what I felt for The Fight for Forever. This book was perfection. Seriously, Meghan March did everything I hoped she would and more. It picked right back up from the brutal cliffhanger in House of Scarlett and answered with action, chemistry, and love.

Gabriel Legend and Scarlett Priest’s story was FIRE. I loved everything about their relationship. They were both strong individual, but together they were a force to be reckoned with. They had a sweet relationship filled with an intense attraction. I loved how they welcomed the (amazing) people in each other’s lives into their own. Many of my favorite moments included them with Bump.

The fight aspect of this book was so much fun to read about. I loved how Gabriel’s preparation for it was worked in. I also loved the suspense the fight brought into this part of the trilogy. March kept me on my toes with everything that went on. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time!

As you can probably tell from all of my gushing, I adored this book. The Fight for Forever was an amazing conclusion to the Legend Trilogy. I’m sad I’m done reading it, but I’m also looking forward to reading what’s next from Meghan March. Her writing gets better and better with each new release.

Add to your Goodreads TBR: http://bit.ly/TheFightforForeverGR

Buy Now:

http://meghanmarch.com/the-fight-for-forever
Amazon: mybook.to/MMFight
Apple Books: http://bit.ly/AppleTheFightforForever
B&N: http://bit.ly/MMTheFightforForeverNook
Kobo: http://bit.ly/TheFightforForeverKobo
Google Play: http://bit.ly/37qt22M

About the author:

Making the jump from corporate lawyer to romance author was a leap of faith that New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Meghan March will never regret. With over thirty titles published, she has sold millions of books in nearly a dozen languages to fellow romance-lovers around the world. A nomad at heart, she can currently be found in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, living her happily ever after with her real-life alpha hero.

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Review: Destructive (Jay McLean)

Destructive
Series: Combative, #3
Author: Jay McLean
Publication Date: January 6, 2020
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Suspense

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

Some villains are made.
Some villains are born.
And some villains aren’t villains at all.

Nate DeLuca was born into a life he didn’t want.
Forced to walk a path that was already chosen for him.
Grandson to a mob boss, he’s forever torn between his duty, his honor, his legacy, and the truth.
But the truth is never simple, and it’s not at all what it seems.

In a world full of secrets, heartache, and betrayals, Nate only has one thing on his mind: redemption.
But with redemption comes destruction.
And that destruction might cost him his heart.

***

Three Lives.
Two Loves.
One ticking time bomb…
Tick tock.

Destructive is the third and final book in the Combative series. Each book builds on the last, so you don’t want to jump ahead because you will miss out on the build up and all the good stuff. You can find my review for the first book, Combative, here.

Woah.

If Combative left me slightly confused with its cliffhanger and Redemptive left me mind blown, then Destructive left me fulfilled. It was everything I didn’t know I wanted, but needed from Jay McLean and her characters. It tested everything I thought I knew about Nate, Ky, Madison, and Bailey. There were so many revelations, so many moments of clarity. It took McLean years to wrap up this story, and I now understand why. It both shocked and amazed. What a way to end such an explosive trilogy!

Series Review: Jamison Valley (Devney Perry)

Over the past couple of weeks I have been binge reading the Jamison Valley series by Devney Perry. Today, I’m sharing with you my mini reviews for each book.

The Coppersmith Farmhouse – ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
I can’t believe this was Perry’s first novel. It was written like a seasoned veteran author. I mean, I can see how her writing has matured since I read some of her newer releases first, but I was still impressed. I loved everything that was going on in the novel. My favorite thing about it had to be Jess, though. I loved the way he loved Gigi and Rowen. I have some of the same concerns Gigi had, but I loved how those worked themselves out. My only complaint about this book is that Jess didn’t get his own POV.

The Clover Chapel – ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I read the Gypsy King last month. I didn’t realize that this book was connected to that book. It was a great surprise — one that started this book out on top. I ended up loving The Clover Chapel so much. It’s Devney Perry’s writing at its best. I adored Nick and Emmy. Their romance and story was fabulous!

The Lucky Heart – ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
I thought that I wasn’t going to be as big of fan of this book as I was the first two because of Felicity. The introduction to her character in The Clover Chapel did not make me a fan. The Lucky Heart did. I liked that she had grown up over the years since high school and wanted to make amends to the people she hurt. It didn’t hurt that Silas brought out the best in her. I loved their romance.

The Outpost – ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
This was another book in the series I wasn’t sure I would like because of how I met Sabrina in the previous book. I wasn’t her biggest fan in that book. I ended up really loving it. Beau and Sabrina were so cute together. I loved the build up of their relationship and how it all came together in the end. I also liked the peak at Bryce, who we meet again in Perry’s new series Gypsy King (Tin Gypsies, #1).

The Bitterroot Inn – ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I don’t have much to say about The Bitterroot Inn other than I loved it. It was predictable in the way romances with a touch of suspense can be, but that only added to the story. Hunter was so sweet to Maisy. I was so happy she got her happy ending after that first book.

The Candle Palace – ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
This was a great way to end the series. It was short and sweet. Perry somehow managed to pack as much punch in this novella as she did in each of the full length books. I loved that I got to know how Milo met Sara.

Overall, this was a great series. I loved that I could see Perry’s writing progress and strengthen throughout it. Plus, all the romances were lovely.

Review: Call Down the Hawk (Maggie Stiefvater)

Call Down the Hawk
Series: Dreamer, #1
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQ+

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

The dreamers walk among us . . . and so do the dreamed. Those who dream cannot stop dreaming – they can only try to control it. Those who are dreamed cannot have their own lives – they will sleep forever if their dreamers die.

And then there are those who are drawn to the dreamers. To use them. To trap them. To kill them before their dreams destroy us all.

Ronan Lynch is a dreamer. He can pull both curiosities and catastrophes out of his dreams and into his compromised reality.

Jordan Hennessy is a thief. The closer she comes to the dream object she is after, the more inextricably she becomes tied to it.

Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter. Her brother was a dreamer . . . and a killer. She has seen what dreaming can do to a person. And she has seen the damage that dreamers can do. But that is nothing compared to the destruction that is about to be unleashed. . . .

The first two chapter of Call Down the Hawk had me wondering if maybe I had outgrown this this author. I just wasn’t pulled in as I expected to be. Once I got to the first chapter that was actually Ronan, I was pulled back into his world. I became interested in the story and what was to come. I was glad I didn’t simply give up on this book because there was so much to love about it.

Maggie Stiefvater’s writing is as enchanting as always. Her dream world, while sometimes overly descriptive, is mesmerizing. I got bogged down a bit by all those descriptions and the almost 500 pages felt long at times, but the underlying story was so good that I didn’t care.

I loved being back with Ronan. I liked getting deeper into his thoughts and opinions. His world was more than I was expecting. I was happy we got to see some of the other Raven Cycle characters through his POV. (Though, not as many moments as I was hoping for.)

As for the other Lynch brothers… I loved them. Declan wasn’t my favorite character in the other series, but he opened my eyes in this book to the good parts of him. He ended up being one of my favorite characters. Matthew… Well, who doesn’t love Matthew?

There were a couple new main characters in Call Down the Hawk. At first meet, I was a little confused by Jordan Hennessy and Carmen Farooq-Lane. It took some time to build their stories, but I loved how they were woven into the Lynch brothers’.

When I got to the end of Call Down the Hawk, I had two feelings. I both wanted more and was relieved that it was over. It feels weird to say that, but I needed a break after so many pages. I’m very curious about where this story is taking us. I’m both relieved I have to wait a bit for the next book and chomping at the bit to find out what’s next. Weird, but true.

Review: The Guy on the Left (Kate Stewart)

The Guy on the Left
Series: The Underdogs, #2
Author: Kate Stewart
Publication Date: December 8, 2019
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

It started with a lie. A night of blurred lines between a teacher and a student.

I wasn’t her student, yet it was the single most defining night of my life.

I’ve never been the man she thinks I am.

Most people have no idea about the life I’ve lived or the words that ring true when it comes to me—still waters run deep.

But you’d be hard-pressed to find a coed on the TGU campus who knows otherwise…because I’ve never corrected them.

The clock is ticking down, it’s Fourth and Inches with the ball inside the one-yard line and the focus is on me, The Guy on the Left. I’ve never felt like a football god, inside I’m…just Troy.

It’s time to set the record straight.

For my son, I‘ll find the strength.

In her eyes, I’m determined to gain redemption.

I will have them both, even if I have to take my eye off the ball.

Before I get into my thoughts on The Guy on the Left, I want to clarify something in the blurb. The blurb makes this sound like a student-teacher romance. It’s really not. Troy was 18, Clarissa was 25, and they did not meet in a school setting. I won’t go deeper into things, but I’m not into student-teacher relationships and this book did not push my boundaries with that. Okay. Now that I have said that. Here’s what I thought about this book.

When I read The Guy on the Right (The Underdogs, #1), I had all these questions about Troy and the family that lived next door. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Troy. He didn’t seem like the best person. The Guy on the Left put everything from that book into perspective. I ended up really loving and respecting his character in ways I didn’t think could happen. Most importantly, he was a good dad.

What surprised me even more than loving Troy was that I didn’t love Clarissa. I liked her, but her decisions and grudge holding made me lose some respect for her. I get why she did what she did in the beginning, but she played the martyr too when it came to their past too much. That being said, Troy’s evolution probably wouldn’t have been so fantastic without Clarissa’s constant need to paint him as the bad guy.

Troy and Clarissa’s relationship was fascinating, but what really got to me in this book was Troy’s relationship with his son, Dante. Dante was pure delight. The way Troy cared for him wasn’t special — it was the way a father should care for his son. What made it made it so fun to read was how it showed who Troy truly was behind all the rumors and frat boy actions. And, like I said, Dante was a delight. He made me smile so much.

Overall, The Guy on the Left was a great new adult romance. It wasn’t as sweet in a funny way like The Guy on the Right was, but it was sweet in an emotional way. I loved how it kept in line with what The Guy on the Right set up, but was it’s own book with a completely different type of relationship. I’m really excited to continue this series with The Guy in the Middle.

Review: Gypsy King (Devney Perry)

Gypsy King
Series: Tin Gypsy, #1
Author: Devney Perry
Publication Date: October 29, 2019
Publisher: Devney Perry LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

The former Tin Gypsy motorcycle club has everyone in Clifton Forge, Montana convinced they’ve locked their clubhouse doors and ripped off their patches. Everyone but Bryce Ryan. There’s more happening at the club’s garage than muscle car restorations and Harley rebuilds. Her instincts are screaming there’s a story—one she’s going to tell.

As the new owner of the small town’s newspaper, Bryce is hungry for more than birth announcements and obituaries. When a woman is brutally killed and all signs point to the Tin Gypsies, Bryce is determined to expose the club and their leader, Kingston “Dash” Slater, as murderers.

Bryce bests Dash match after match, disappointed her rugged and handsome opponent turns out to be an underwhelming adversary. Secrets are exposed. Truths defeat lies. Bryce is poised to win this battle in a landslide.

Then Dash breaks all the rules and tips the scales.

One kiss, and she’s fighting to save more than just her story. She’s fighting to save her heart from the Gypsy King.

Devney Perry is one of my favorite new-to-me authors of 2019. I love her writing style and the emotion she infuses in her words and stories. I was really excited to read her newest release, Gypsy King. Here are my quick thoughts on it.

What I didn’t like:

There’s only one thing, really. It took me a few chapters or so to get into the book. It wasn’t love at first word. The only reason I can give you for this was that I didn’t immediately bond with Bryce’s character. Her actions made me mad at first because she didn’t give any thought to how what she was investigating would do to the people it impacted. Luckily, Bryce grew on me.

What I loved:

The writing, of course.
Dash. He should have been someone I didn’t like because of things he had done in the past, but he was a good guy.
The mystery behind the murder and how that all played out.
Dash and Bryce’s relationship. I loved them together.
Bryce once she and Dash became involved and her priorities shifted. I loved how she interacted with his friends, too.
Dash’s friends.

By the end of Gypsy King, I was enjoying the story so much I didn’t want it to end. I’m so excited for the rest of the series.

Review: House of Scarlett (Meghan March)

House of Scarlett
Series: Legend Trilogy
Author: Meghan March
Publication Date: December 10, 2019
Publisher: Meghan March LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Meghan March continues the utterly addictive Legend Trilogy in House of Scarlett.

Gabriel Legend is unlike any other man I’ve ever met.
He came into my life like a hurricane, shattering all my assumptions and preconceived notions.
I wasn’t prepared for him. I wasn’t prepared for any of it.
But life doesn’t wait until you’re ready. Whatever happens next, I know one thing for certain.
I will never be the same Scarlett I was before I met him.

House of Scarlett is the second book in the Legend Trilogy and should be read after The Fall of Legend, book one in the utterly addictive Legend Trilogy.

After the last book, this one didn’t start exactly how I expected — that was actually a good surprise. I loved the direction Meghan March took the story. I loved seeing the way the character’s relationship changed and everything that went along with that. The drama was entertaining, but House of Scarlett felt more homey and comfortable than some of March’s books… Right up until the ending I didn’t see coming. Meghan March worked her cliffhanger magic for Scarlett and Legend. I cannot wait to find out where the next book is going to take me. The wait is going to kill me.

P.S. I know this review basically says nothing. If I was any more specific I would spoil everything. That’s how good this book is!

Add to your Goodreads TBR:

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Where to buy:

http://meghanmarch.com/house-of-scarlett
Amazon: mybook.to/MMSCARLETT
Apple Books: http://bit.ly/AppleHouseofScarlett
B&N: http://bit.ly/MMHoSNook
Kobo: http://bit.ly/HouseofScarlettKobo
Google Play: bit.ly/35Ltbxh

About the author:

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